Title: A Two placed Heart
Author: Doan Phuong Ngyun
Genre: Middle Grade School
Publication Date: September 24, 2024
Publisher: Lee and Low
Rating: 💥💥💥💥💥
About the Book
Afraid her sister (and maybe even herself) could lose sight of their Vietnamese identity, twelve-year-old Bom writes a poetic memoir to help them both remember--a love letter in verse to sisterhood and the places we leave behind.
Bom can't believe that her sister doesn't see herself as Vietnamese, only American. She says she doesn't remember Vietnam or their lives there, their family there, their house and friends. How could her sister forget the terrible journey through Saigon and the airplanes and... everything?
And what about Bom? She remembers now, but how long will she keep her memories? She always found comfort in the sound of her father's typewriter. Clickity-clack, clickity-clack. So she has an idea.
She'll write down all that she can remember: the time when her father was a spy, when her mother was nicknamed a "radio," when they were so hungry Bom couldn't walk well, when the family all said goodbye. Bom will even tell her sister, and herself, about what it was like moving to Tennessee. The ESL classes, bullies, strange new foods, icy weather, friendships, and crushes--and how her family worked to keep their heritage alive. She'll type one poem at a time, until they'll never forget again.
My thoughts
Wow. Although it's meant for children, adults can get something out of it. It was beautifully written and heartwarming. Although it's Vietnamese representation, I'm sure anyone who's family choose to come here to the US from their home country has had many of the thoughts, feelings and emotions expressed in this book. This would also be a good book for US born children to read to gain an understanding what other new students in their class might be dealing with. This was truly a beautiful read.
About the Author
Doan Phuong Nguyen was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States when she was in elementary school. She loves anything pink and cute but enjoys writing incredibly sad, emotionally evocative novels. She received her MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. This is her first middle grade novel. Find her at doanphuong.com.
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